Chapter 7: Breaking off the Engagement
"Sister-in-law, come in and listen to me. Don't make any noise. So many people are watching us—" Lu Qiniang said with an apologetic smile.
"Is there anything that can't be said in front of everyone?" Zhao leaned forward with her hands on her waist, and the two drooping eyebrows on her jujube-shaped face almost flew out of her forehead.
She yelled at the top of her voice: "Abandoned mother! We agreed that you would never marry again and Daya would find a son-in-law!"
Before he finished speaking, his saliva had already splashed onto Lu Qiniang's faded blue shirt.
The neighbors who were watching subconsciously took half a step back. A timid child burst into tears, but she glared at him and forced him to hold his tears back.
Behind her, a boy of fifteen or sixteen was pulling her sleeve, "Mom, please speak slowly."
This young man was none other than the son of Zhao and hunter Xiao Dashan, named Hutou.
Hutou is Daya's fiancé.
To be precise, it is a son-in-law who is to be married into the wife's family.
The marriage of the two has been decided, but they are still young. They have agreed to get married when Daya is sixteen and Hutou is eighteen.
The reason why Zhao came to make trouble today was because she heard that Lu Qiniang had bought another husband to give birth to a son.
If I give birth to a son, what about the family property?
The reason why she agreed to let her third son marry into the Zhou family was, firstly, because she had given birth to four sons and the pressure of marrying them all was too great; secondly, she was attracted by Lu Qiniang's strength and good fortune, as she had found jobs in the Zhou family with her three daughters.
As a result, they were driven back and bought a sickly husband.
Zhao was already unhappy, so she took the opportunity to make a fuss and cancel the marriage.
"Slow down, what are you talking about!" Zhao turned around and glared at Hu Tou fiercely. "What do you know, you silly boy? Their family is a fraudulent marriage, a fraudulent marriage! I'm going to report it to the authorities. Lu Qi Niang will be beaten with a stick and thrown in jail!"
Lu Qiniang was very satisfied with this marriage.
The Tiger-Headed Man, as his name suggests, was born with a tiger-like appearance and learned hunting skills from his father.
In the future, being with Daya will help me support the family business.
And both children are willing in their hearts.
So at this moment, she kept speaking well of Zhao.
"Sister-in-law, this is all a misunderstanding. I may not even give birth to a son, right? Besides, even if he does, I'm broke now, and there's nothing to share. I promise you, this house will be left to Daya and Hutou..."
This is her most valuable possession.
She knew in her heart that it was impossible for her to have a son.
There was a dog between the two people sleeping.
Even the dog disagreed with her and Xiao Yan having a son.
What's more, who does she think she is that Xiao Yan would like her?
Ever since she got so fat, no one knocked on her widow's door anymore.
But these cannot be said explicitly.
Zhao refused to give in, spitting everywhere: "Stop talking nonsense, I'm withdrawing from this marriage today!"
"Mom, I won't retreat." Hu Tou turned his face away, his ears red.
"I have the final say!" Zhao said angrily.
"Then retreat." Daya's voice sounded, without any sadness or joy, and her face was so calm that she didn't look like a thirteen-year-old girl.
"Daya, don't talk nonsense. Mother is talking to your Aunt Zhao, don't interrupt as a child." Lu Qin's mother said.
Daya came over and held her back, "Mother, why force a melon to grow sweet? Let's part ways amicably. Aunt Zhao, if I remember correctly, my mother gave your family 20 taels of silver as a betrothal gift. Since the marriage is over..."
Zhao jumped up and down, "If I go to the government office and sue you, all of you who committed marriage fraud will be beaten with sticks and go to jail. You have the nerve to return the betrothal gift after a marriage fraud. How can you compensate me for the two years I've wasted on my son?"
What he meant was that he only wanted to cancel the engagement and not return the betrothal gift.
At this time, someone in the crowd couldn't bear it anymore and said something fair.
"Sister-in-law Zhao, you're being unkind. Your boy is only fifteen, why are you delaying him? Since you don't want to get married, just return the money."
"That's right. She obviously regretted the engagement because she saw that Qi Niang was sick, had spent a lot of money, and was no longer in the Zhou family. She despised the poor and loved the rich, and she was right."
Someone murmured quietly.
"Whoever is gossiping here, get out here!" Zhao was furious.
Lu Qiniang whispered to Daya, "Is this marriage really over? Don't worry, I'll talk to her about it. It's all a misunderstanding. I can earn more money..."
"Mom, forget it." Daya shook her head and didn't say much.
Lu Qiniang understood her daughter.
Daya always speaks softly, but has very positive ideas.
Hu Tou's eyes turned red with anxiety. "Daya, how could you do this? Aren't we two doing fine? My mother is just unhappy and said a few words, but it doesn't mean she really wants to cancel the engagement. And you just..."
"Your mother was unhappy and said a few words casually, and she almost sent us and my mother to the yamen to be beaten with a stick. If your mother had been serious, would she have killed all nine generations of our family?" Daya said calmly.
Xiao Yan, who was listening in the room, was surprised.
Unexpectedly, this Daya looks gentle but is so strong-willed in her heart.
"You, I, I didn't say I wanted to cancel the engagement."
"You didn't say it, but why don't you discuss your family affairs at home? Why do you go out and fight in the street and let people watch before discussing it?"
Hu Tou was speechless.
When Lu Qiniang heard this, she understood what Daya meant.
Erya also understood.
She ran into the house and came out with a kitchen knife in her hand: "If you want to owe my family twenty taels of silver, then none of you will live!"
Lu Qiniang was frightened by her and quickly snatched the kitchen knife away, scolding: "What are you doing here? Go inside!"
"Mother, that's twenty taels of silver. How many new clothes can you buy with it?"
Lu Qiniang: "There will be new clothes. Stop making a fuss. What a shame!"
My daughter wants to get married in the future and she wants a good reputation.
"Saya, go and invite the village head." Lu Qiniang instructed Sanya, whose eyes were rolling around.
"Okay." San Ya ran out quickly.
Soon, the village head came and helped mediate after hearing the whole story.
The final result was that the engagement was cancelled, and the Zhao family returned half of the betrothal gift, which was ten taels of silver.
But Zhao acted like a rogue. She agreed to return the ten taels of silver, but refused to pay a single word, saying that she had just married her second daughter-in-law and still had a lot of debts outside. She would pay it back when she had money.
Xiao Dashan has five brothers and four sons, making him a wealthy family that cannot be messed with.
Although she knew she was at a disadvantage at the moment, Lu Qiniang had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree, thinking that she would ask for the money back later.
The most important thing at the moment is Daya.
Although Daya didn't cry or make a fuss, that didn't mean she wasn't sad.
Whose child would just treat his or her engagement being broken off as nothing happened?
"Blame him, it's all his fault!" Erya pointed at Xiao Yan and stomped her feet. "It's all his fault. I don't have new clothes to wear during the New Year, and my eldest sister's engagement was broken off. We won't even be able to eat meat this New Year!"
If the engagement was not broken off, the Xiao family would definitely send some pheasants or rabbits as New Year gifts.
Now, the people, money and meat are gone.
Xiao Yan lowered his eyes.
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